So im a bit confused about Dystonia. My thumb does this thing where it gets "tensed" up for a split second and gets pulled inward-ish. But only lasts a second. It feels like a muscle spasm almost but lasts for like a half second. I've been diagnosed with ET and have no other PD symptoms of any kind (for the past 6-7 years at least now nothing has changed). I've always had muscle spasms though, so I wonder if thats maybe related.
ANYWAYS, from researching Dystonia the general "vibe" I got from researching it was that Dystonia as a symptom of PD is actually quite rare.....and it's usually caused from the side effect of medication. And when it DOES happen (Especially in early onset PD) it's usually foot dystonia. From such quotes like this "It is very uncommon in untreated patients and is more frequently seen as a complication of its treatment"
Sidenote: Is it true that PD only affects one side of the body at a time? IE: Would PD basically progress on one side heavily (IE: First Fingers--->Hands--->Arm-->Legs-->etc) until it goes to the other sides, or would it be more likely to be like (Fingers On left--->Fingers on Right-->Left Leg affected---->Right Leg affected-->Etc..). Cause if so this "thing" i've been getting on my hand the past 2 days has been on my "less" apparent tremor side (My left thumb has ET way more)
Thanks

Hi,
I was diagnosed with ET about 7 years ago (actually more like 8-9 years now since i've had symptoms). My typical symptom is a tremor in my fingers when bending them in a certain position (it will start to tremor if I try to bend my thumb inward for instance). It's on both hands (always has been) but my left is worse than my right. I was diagnosed with a general tremor 8 years ago (with not much info) but saw another neuro a year and a half ago (and most recently a month ago) she concluded it looks like ET and again said I "move too quickly and normally for it to be parkinsons". Im 32 years old so PD would obviously be rare.
I have no slowness of movement or any other PD symptoms to note (or family history) however one symptom bother me sometimes.
Occasionally my thumb will feel "tight" like it's a tight rubberband internally, and occasionally it'll do a single twitch (or two) when at rest. This doesn't happen all the time, and 99.9% of the time when my hands are at rest they don't move at all (although my hand can be at rest but holding my thumb inward will cause a tremor.....but since im putting tension on it I wouldn't think that's a rest tremor). It's been this way for 8 years and hasn't really progressed if at all (although flexing a muscle or holding something heavy will make my hands shake slightly).
Is the "sudden twitch" i get (1 or 2 twitches) on my thumb any concern for PD? I remember occasionally getting them even 7-8 years ago. It just feels like that muscle is "tight". Considering I haven't had any progression as far as Bradykineisa/Rigidity (Neuro said I was very flexible and all other tests were fine). Arm swing is fine,etc... im guessing that would go against PD? Surely over 8-9 years something would've progressed by now to........Something/anything else? I know PD progresses slower in YOPD....but that slow? I've also heard of PD patients progressing from a Rest to also developing an Action/Postural tremor but never from Action/Postural to developing a Rest Tremor afterwards (Unless im mistaken although im sure it happens).
Here is a video btw of my tremor (it's slightly worse since i've been anxious here lately anyways, it doesn't show the rest twitch but imagine a single twitch of my thumb with a really low amplitude, it's very very slight when it happens....and very rare). Other fingers do it to, but since they can't move as far as the thumb it's less noticeable (also not as bad on my right hand either, but it's always been on my right hand). It def. gets worse with anxiety or if im tired/etc.. Im not sure if the "speed" of the tremor is any indication of PD vs ET.
Im assuming since this requires "tension" to make it happen it's not a resting tremor right? I almost wonder if this is some spasm problem, because sometimes I can feel muscles up in my arm almost spasm at rest too (I've always had muscle spasms since I was a teen anyways all over my body) and since I do computer work for my job this maybe causes this rest twitch. Might explain the "tight" feeling in my thumb.
Thanks! (Also I understand a DAT scan will rule this out but right now do not have the funds for it, just curious on your opinion )

Sample of the tremor I feel. I was diagnosed with ET...but occasionally i'll get a single "twitch" at rest (like the video but much more minor). Otherwise it's been this way for 8 years or so now. Would this be considered a postural tremor or? it's obviously pretty quick and not super rhythmic, then again I don't know if PD tremors or slower or what...
Thanks!

Ah, see besides this "tremor/twitch" I have no other symptoms at least that the Neuro could tell (I don't feel anything else either). I do have muscle spasms on and off all over my body but i've had that since I was a teenager (I have a feeling maybe BFS)
What exactly is it about the way you walk that makes them think it's PD?

My handwriting has always been super bad (since like.......forever). Everything i've seen recommends that mine is actually a postural tremor since when my hands are completely at rest i'll only get a twitch or two on occasion. it requires me bending my fingers to incite the tremor.
Also were you diagnosed with actual PD or just parkinsonianism? (there is a difference apparently im told?)

Do you have PD diagnosis out of curiosity?
For me it doesn't make any sense for this to be considered a rest tremor because when my hand is completely at rest the tremor won't happen. It only happens when bending a finger/thumb.
I posted in ask the doctor and Dr. Okun says it's not classical for PD but didn't go In to detail.

Thanks, yeah it's basically been this way for 8+ years. Both hands have it, left worse than right (Which is weird cause my right hand is dominant). I've heard ET was "bilateral" but I dunno if that means both sides have to be exactly the same.
I have no other symptoms (Smell is good, arm swing fine, no slowness of movement (my neuro in fact said "I move too well for a PD patient"). I just get concerned because at rest occasionally my thumb/finger will feel tense and it'll do a single twitch (Which it's done that off and on for a while). It still never get full on tremors though. I guess a PD patient would typically start with a rest tremor developing into an action/postural tremor as opposed to the opposite I suppose?
I'd also assume i'd get other symptoms if it's been 8+ years. I know YOPD is slower progressing.....but 8-10 years and nothing really new? (outside a little bit of a slight shake when holding heavy things but even thats been for a good while and not very severe).

it's been this way for 7-8 years. Hasn't changed a whole lot. I have the "slightly" shaky hands when holding something (like a coffee cup) but no other symptoms really (at least PD wise). Is this considered a rest tremor since my hand is at "rest" but it requires bending a finger/thumb to cause it? I guess that would make it postural right?

So i've posted here before, but i've sorta came to the conclusion that maybe what I was diagnosed with (ET) maybe isn't accurate.
Over the past 8 or so years i've had a "twitching" finger. Basically my finger will twitch side to side (well thumbs too but my index finger on my right hand has been extra twitchy here the past week, probably due to some muscle/tendon problems from computer usage). It happens on both hands/sides. Sometimes my finger will just feel stiff (probably from computer use since im a Programmer)
Otherwise my symptoms I get are:
- Muscle Spasms everywhere (Ive had these since I can remember, a single muscle section will jump for a few seconds then stop)
- Muscle spasms increase after overuse/stress
- Eyelid spasms (all the time)
- And then the twitches that I mention
The neuro that saw me a year ago diagnosed with me ET. I have no family history of ET. My hands do shake slightly when holding something, which is what I think she based the diagnosis on. (I did the writing/spiral test to show my writing was sorta sloppy but I was SUPER nervous that day so my hands were wayyyy more shaky than normal). Finger-nose test was good, also I had 2 MRI's 6 and 7 years ago (Which ruled out MS, not to mention these symptoms are constant but basically no really progressing which also sorta rules out MS).
My question however is with a "Tremor" like with PD or Parkinsons...shouldn't it be rhytmic? When my fingers twitch/shake, it's jumpy and not really a consistent shake. It's very twitchy like with a different frequency and amplitude. I do not have a twitching/tremor or w/e at rest although occasionally at rest (especially when im particularly stressed or my fingers/hands have been overused a lot) i'll get like a single "jump" in my finger. But maybe thats more of just like the muscle spasms I get (Since fingers don't have muscles right? so the tendon/muscle is actually the thing spasming).
However I never get multiple twitches or tremors at rest it's always like a single jump or two. But 99% of the time it's when im holding my fingers in a certain position against gravity.
Im 32 years old, have no slowness/gait problems (I did have some slight dizziness 6 months ago but I think that was anxiety), fine arm swing/etc..... I have no other symptoms that seemed like PD symptoms (Neuro didn't see anything a year ago). I guess im just slightly anxious about it being PD from the rest "twitch" I get occasionally. but Like I said...it's a single surge or two, not a tremor at rest and 99% of the times it's positional.
I remember reading somewhere that the "sudden jerks are not typical of PD". Does this sound like PD at all? I know I was diagnosed with ET...but it feels maybe more like BFS (since i have the muscle spasms). I dont care if it's BFS or ET since they are benign. Im just slightly worried. The only thing remotely like PD I have right now is a slightly stiff index finger (but I type all the time and have been under a ton of stress here lately)
Sorry for the long message, thanks!

I didn't think so. Im not even sure the "ET" diagnosed tremors I have would really even be considered tremors. The twitches I was experiencing here the past week has subsided a lot (my index finger is no longer twitching or feeling stiff while typing). So I guess I had a bout of carpal tunnel or something. I've been sick anyways this past week so maybe the stress/feeling bad just made my twitches worse.
Stress/feeling unwell seems to just make me spasm in general. Which i've heard happens in BFS. Regardless I think your correct that I should contact my neuro. Thing is I basically have zero PD symptoms besides the "tremor" which isn't at rest. I think just the rest twitches (which were like a single pulse or two) I had this past week had me concerned.
Thanks!

So I've had a sort of "thumb/finger " tremor on my left hand for quite some time (technically it's on my right too, but my left hand is always the more "twitching one").
Basically at rest it'll be fine. I can lay my hands on my lap and be fine (occasionally depending on the position of my thumb it can possibly twitch but otherwise resting them on my lap/sleeping/etc.. they do not twitch at all). But whenever I pull my thumb towards my other fingers it'll start to tremor (even if my "hand" is at rest). I guess this is considered a "postural" tremor, but I know ET patients have that too. It sucks because when I type my thumbs are held out in a tense fashion which makes it worse. Caffeine/Lack of sleep/etc.. absolutely make it worse as well. Basically any sort of "opposing" the tension of anything in a certain posture with my fingers seems to cause the twitching. It happens to my other fingers too, but my thumb on my left side is the most apparent. For instance stretching out my fingers may not make them twitch, but pulling them inward barely together will make them start to twitch.
It's like my fingers only twitch at certain 'positions'? or when there is some sort of tension on them. I can almost feel like they are tense and then it will start to twitch. This is pretty variable however and twitches worsen/are better depending on caffeine/sleep/etc., is this still considered a resting tremor if my hand is at rest BUT it requires a certain posture of my thumb/fingers to twitch?
For reference i've had this ongoing for about almost 7 years now. I remember bringing it up to a neuro 7 years ago. It hasn't really "changed" in 7 years and I saw a Neuro again about a year ago that diagnosed me with ET. Im 31 years old so Im wondering if she sorta blew past any possible parkinson's diagnosis....but she did feel me to make sure I felt "loose" muscle wise, and watched my walk/arm sway.
I guess the big question is: If it is indeed just ET, I need to just accept it. But in the span of 7 years would someone with YOPD have progressed in that span of time? I can't really say my tremor is any worse really (maybe VERY VERY slightly).
As far as other symptoms I have none, I occasionally "feel" off-balance, but i don't actually fall or have a weird gait. I think it may be anxiety related. and my muscles feel flexible like normal (besides my neck being always tight, but I sit at a computer all day and have terrible posture). Also my left leg doesn't feel weak but gets sore very easily (like feels like shin splints.....but only in my left leg), however it has no weakness and is just sore (maybe a nerve problem relating to back/spine as im sure I have back/neck problems due to my job).
Should I just accept the ET diagnosis? Does the dizziness sound like anything PD related? (Since im not actually falling/etc...)...it's almost just the 'feeling' of uncoordination....but I can run/etc.. just fine (Honestly if I don't "think" about it, then i don't even notice the feeling). Also the tremor....does that seem like PD? or would something have worsened in the 6 or so years i've had this issue.

It's funny you mention dystonic tremor because I do get twitches in my neck/head where it'll feel like a quick spasm which will twitch my head barely. It's like a quick muscle spasm. It's usually worse of course when i've been working at the computer a lot otherwise I generally don't feel it. I looked up focal dystonia in the fingers and it seems like they have similar symptoms (Twitching if their fingers are in a certain position) and I can feel the pain when I bend my fingers very far down or back for example (Maybe it's CTS...who knows).
It is reassuring it sounds like ET, the only symptom I have is really tremors in my fingers at certain positions (and that's not even a rest tremor technically). Honestly though Im really curious if it's an actual tremor, since it's not "rhythmic", it's sort of twitchy but the amplitude and frequency do not stay the same. Not sure what really constitutes one way or the other. When I see tremors on youtube videos for PD it's very rythmic. Mine is very twitchy back and forth (as in it stops/starts intermittently, and my fingers won't move the same distance when they twitch/etc....)
Last question though: you say "The dizziness doesn't sway me one way or the other", I thought postural instability was a PD symptom? or is it usually only something that happens later on in the disease (When PD is very obvious) so that doesn't really "fit" here? Since my balance/gait are actually fine (My wife even did the "pull" test on me where you pull me back to see how many steps it takes to regain) and even with a forceful pull It still only took me a step or two to regain balance). My "dizziness" is really just that feeling of feeling off-balance...but really not being off balance.
Also thanks so much for answering my questions!

Yeah. It's been 6 years, for reference I was diagnosed with ET by a Neuro not by a GP. she had done the typical PD physical tests. Besides the occasional dizzy feeling (Which im almost convinced is anxiety or some neck tension) I don't really have any other symptoms.
The only "rest" anything I have is an occasional single twitch, but even that requires my fingers to be resting in a tense position. But it'll only "twitch once (it won't actually tremor back and forth, just sort of a single "jerk" inward to get it out of the "tense" position). Im guessing that isn't actually technically a "tremor"?, and even that is rare. My actual tremor only appears when im bending the fingers in a certain position. Still though...it's been this way for 6 years and is only barely (if at all) worse than it was when it started.
I've heard YOPD typically shows with Dystona/other symptoms over tremor anyways? Im not really sure what dystonia would feel like but Im guessing it'd be pretty noticeable? My neck is sometimes stiff/sore but i sit at the computer most of the day due to work (In a terrible posture no less ha)
Also did you mean "There are cases of ET" instead of "There are case of PD that have mainly rest tremor", I thought most cases of PD were with resting tremor? (Which I do not have)
By the way, do you have any comment on this:
One major caveat, though: Changes in balance and gait tend to emerge as the disease progresses
I read this on multiple sites regarding parkinsons. Is this usually true (if so it would make me feel a bit better about my "dizziness" issue.

I've posted on here before about a finger tremor. But I was curious if it constituted 'rest' tremor?
Essentially my finger/thumb tremors if I bend it, pull it inward into a certain position. For example I can have my hands relaxed on my lap without tremoring, but with my hands relaxed if I start to tense/bend my thumb/finger inward it'll start to twitch.
Would this still be considered rest? Since my finger needs to be at a certain posture BUT my hand is at rest? or would that still be postural?
I do sometimes get a single "twitch" of a finger (like it moves inward for example slightly) if my fingers are bent in a certain position and I rest my hands, but thats very uncommon. I guess that's really more of a mykomia/single twitch than a tremor correct?
For my fingers actually to rhythmically move back and forth I have to have them bent in a certain position. I sometimes wonder if this "twitch" may be due to my fingers feeling stiff from typing so much all the time (Im a software dev so Im always typing haaha)

Your right, I just get so focused. But I did look at some videos of resting tremor and it's way different. I always get stuck on "what if it's just the beginning"...but in that case I guess i've been at the beginning for 6+ years. I need to just accept my ET diagnosis and be thankful. Sorry i've flooded the boards with this stuff. Anxiety is a hell of a drug.

Ah, see yeah I get the same thumb tremor but only when it's bent. from my research this is considered NOT a resting tremor. Also apparenly YOPD actually don't usually start with tremors if that's consolation from my research. But more often dystonia. I wish you will either way!

Hi all, I posted in the ask a doctor forum but figured i'd post here to see what everyone thinks.
I started having a tremor on my thumb (technically fingers too, but mostly on my thumb) about 6-7 years ago. I saw a neuro and had an MRI and it came back clean, he basically said it was idiopathic. The tremor itself will only happen if I bend it (or put tension on it by barely bending it towards my fingers for example). However at rest (or if my hands are sitting in my lap) I do not have the tremor (it might twitch once occasionally at rest if it's bent in a certain position towards my fingers, if that makes any sense). I guess this would be a "postural" tremor?
Anyways, I have it on both hands, my left is worse for sure but i've basically had it on both for the past 6-7 years. It gets worse when im tired/caffeine/etc..., so it's kinda varied every day. I dunno if my left is worse just cause im right handed and my right side is stronger or what.
Here is the thing though, the tremor itself has basically been the same for 6-7 years. It hasn't changed at all besides MAYBE worsening by like....barely more. It doesn't affect my daily life though (although sometimes my fingers feel stiff, but I am a software developer and im sure typing all the time causes that). Regardless my daily life isn't affected by this.
I saw a neuro about a year or so ago because I started getting worried again, she did some basic neuro tests and said it was essential tremor. Checking my gait/making sure I didn't have rigidity/etc..., I felt fine with the diagnosis but for some reason here lately im doubting it.
The reason Im doubting it is because here recently I've had the feeling of unsteadyness. And when I say feeling I really mean just the feeling. I don't walk crooked, struggle walking. I can balance myself on one leg and do the heel-toe walk. However sometimes when Im walking it feels like my head is "full" and that im going to start walking funny, but my balance is fine? (If that makes any sense). It's not always and when I don't think about it I feel fine, but when I start thinking about it and start concentrating on it I feel like im walking weird. However this is the only other "symptom" I feel. I do and have always had anxiety...so it may be related.
I don't really have stiffness either, my legs are occasionally sore (not stiff) but I sit a LOT at work and Im sure I have poor posture, same with my neck...feels just sore when I move it, but I stare at a computer screen all day. I do get fatigued, but not overly so....I also have kinda a crappy sleep schedule so that doesn't help. It doesn't prevent me from doing any work/etc...
For reference I did have blood tests recently and the only abnormal thing was TSH (Which was high at 5.5+), so I may have a bit of hypothyroidism....im getting that rechecked in a month.
Any thoughts? it's driving me nuts. I don't think it's MS because my symptoms are ALWAYS there (I worried about MS for a long time) and since I have no "down" periods I know it's not MS....but for some reason im stuck on YOPD (Which I know would be rare at my age of 31).
edit: For reference my fingers/hands tremor/twitch Im not really sure if it's technically a twitch or a tremor. As if I leave it in the spot that causes it to twitch it'll twitch but not really at a specific rhythm. I dunno if that's considered a twitch or tremor.

That makes sense, but what about in my case. When my hand is at rest by my finger is required to be at a certain position to twitch. Is this still rest? or since im finger requires a certain position it's postural?
every once in a blue moon my finger at rest will feel tense and do a single jump......but only one jump, not actually tremor (this is very rare though and only if my fingers are close to the "tremor" position when they are at rest).
a good example would be sometimes my thumb will twitch when gripping a mouse......it's not a tremor exactly as it's sitting there shaking, but like a single "pulse"...since im 'gripping' something despite my hand being at rest..would this be considered rest? I would think not since you are actually gripping something?

Right yeah. I mean essential tremor DOES make sense from what the neuro tested me with and I was fine with that diagnosis. but it's sorta "tough" to fully accept since theirs no "definitive" test for it. But symptom wise it does match (having a postural/action tremor but not a rest tremor, getting worse with stress/etc...)
one thing I have read:
Many of the more common signs of Parkinson’s in the elderly are less common in young onset Parkinson’s disease including;
Tremors
Cognitive problems such as memory loss and dementia
Loss of balance and coordination
So that at least helps point to ET more-so (since those are the symptoms I have, minus the loss of balance and cognition problems). Still maybe a datscan will at least keep my worries at bay.
I don't really have the dystonia they describe that early onset people have.

I guess I can't tell if it's worth getting a DatScan? Since i looked at your symptom history and I just don't see that with myself. Really the only thing that's been consistent is a non-resting postural tremor that hasn't progressed. Or are u suggesting that I should? (I can't really tell).
I mean since seeing my neuro a year or w/e ago im experiencing the same thing...so I think im more just anxious than anything.

He basically said a DatScan should be used to differentiate ET vs PD. But didn't comment on whether it sounded like PD or not (Which was sorta what I was looking for). At my age (31) I would think it would be extremely rare (since in that study there were ZERO cases under 30, and im very close to 30)
I was just feeling worried, and hoping that my low progression of symptoms and no rest tremor (over 6+ years) would sorta of be more conclusive that it's actually ET...but now im not so sure.